Since their humble beginnings in Denver, Colorado over a decade ago, The Fray have become a hit on the pop rock music scene. Championing the common man’s cause, The Fray have achieved success both at home and aboard, nabbing four Grammy nominations and three Billboard Music Awards in the process. Now, they return with their fourth studio album, Helios.

The Fray is known for their mid-tempo, piano driven pop rock songs and soft power ballads that all have a strong sense of energy, pushed by the lead vocals of band leader Isaac Slade. This has been the common pattern in their first three albums, all which have been met with largely positive reviews and moderate sales.

Helios is no different. While there are some very fun original sounds, the album largely fails to surprise. The heart and the energy all here on this record, yet by no means will this album truly surprise any listener, whether they be a newcomer or someone who has been faithful to the band since the beginning. Helios still is, however, a very fun and accessible album that for many people, is very deserving of a buy.

The Fray hardly bring any new sounds to the table; mixing common sounds that only echo the sound of their previous works. While this is a drawback, it does allow The Fray to stay true to who they are. Throughout the record, there is a large sense that the band is very self-aware of who they are, never veering away from their central messages of loss, love, and the constant reminder to keep marching forward.

The lyrics are nothing special, never reaching deep into the depths of human emotion, but rather painting a plain and unapologetic portrait of the struggles of the common man. The words and structure of many of the songs are very reminiscent of past albums and any listener will not be mistaken as to whom they are listening to. As talented has he is and as passionate Isaac Slade is about his singing, his voice does grow tiresome in the tracks that make up Helios. There are few experiments with his talents, as his voice hardly takes center stage, instead serving as a complement the music itself.

While nothing truly original, Helios does have a few standout tracks that may climb up the many popular music charts. The intro to this album is just great and is sure to hook in any listener. Songs such as “Hold My Hand”, “Love Don’t Die”, and “Hurricane” all have a strong driving pop rock sound that surely become hits for The Fray, while tracks like “Give It Away” and “Closer To Me” are just hella catchy. These songs and others alike make up the first two thirds of the album while the ending is marked with the soft, rhythmic ballads of “Same as You” and “Wherever This Goes” that help bring home the message of never giving up and promising a brighter tomorrow no matter what happens.

Helios doesn’t surprise and isn’t a must buy, yet it is a fun and incredibly enjoyable album from a band that is universally accessible. The catchy choruses, entertaining sounds, and soft ballads are sure to please most music tastes. The Fray didn’t provide anything groundbreaking, but what they did do, however, was put forth an album that reminds us of their impressive talents and gives us a great sign of what is still yet to come from the still young band.

Our Rating: 6.5/10